LAURA WOODS: LACK OF ARSENAL SPENDING INFURIATING
THE ALEXANDER ISAK SAGA
Eddie Howe has come out and said Alexander Isak is very happy at Newcastle – that always makes me nervous when managers say things like that!
I wasn’t sure he’d move but if the fee is in excess of £100million as reported, plus player power these days, then he could go.
And Liverpool is an incredibly attractive destination. It looks like the manager is ripping the team up to go again. They are missing a striker and Isak would be perfect.
I just don’t understand why Newcastle, who should really be seriously challenging this season for a top-four spot, would let their best asset go to a rival.
ARSENAL’S LACK OF STRIKER SEARCH
Arsenal are frustrating when it comes to transfers.
The silence, the length of time it takes to get deals over the line, the over-haggling which has seen them miss out on good players... it never seems to improve.
With Isak I don’t think they are prepared to spend the kind of money that Liverpool are, which infuriates me. It’s been the one position that has defined our season for all the wrong reasons time and time again.
Noni Madueke has divided opinion among the fans, for sure. I’d like to wait to see how he plays before I judge him – I don’t like the negativity surrounding that transfer though. It’s become quite personal.
I think some of the criticism is because if spending that money means missing out on Viktor Gykores, it will be an absolute shocker.
CHANGES FOR THE LIONESSES
Sarina Wiegman might have a few sore bodies to deal with on Tuesday, but at least they’ve had a bit of rest.
If Leah Williamson isn’t fit, it’ll be a big problem in defence without someone like Millie Bright to come in and shore it up. It was pretty shaky at the back against Sweden.
Lauren James’ fitness isn’t clear either, so there’s certainly the option to start Chloe Kelly. But Sarina doesn’t like tinkering with her team unless she absolutely has to.
Chloe is excellent off the bench so if she starts I think it’ll be more an issue with Lauren’s fitness.
Lauren knits things together a lot more than people realise – she helps England build, she dropped deep against Sweden and was at the centre of it in getting England up the pitch. People just love to criticise her when she doesn’t score!
I want to see more of Michelle Agyemang too – not as a starter, but more minutes than she’s been given so far.
She is a constant threat when we see her and she scores goals.
ENGLAND SHOULD BEAT ITALY
Italy are dangerous but England should defeat them.
We are much more established as a team. We’ve had our bit of luck and now need to properly knuckle down to cut out the little errors that lead to big problems.
I think the high that England are on from coming through penalties like they did, and being one step away from another final, will take them over the line.
